Warning! Dangers of Baby Hammocks
August 26 2010 Health Canada is again warning parents and caregivers against using hammocks designed for infants and young children. This is due to the potential suffocation hazard posed by these products. The product has an inclined sleeping surface which increases the risk of infants rolling and becoming wedged in a position where they can no longer breathe.
On August 24, 2010, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) in cooperation with the company MamaLittleHelper announced a voluntary recall of the MamaLittleHelper Hammocks with model numbers 1010, 1020 and BL222. These products were sold online at www.mamalittlehelper.com from May 2008 through February 2010 for between $100 and $230.
The warning is that Health Canada is aware that a small quantity of these products have been purchased in Canada and recommends that consumers should not attempt to fix these products and should stop using them immediately.
What do I do?
Consumers who own a hammock designed for infants and young children should not use it. It should be disassembled and disposed of in such a way that it can not be reused. Do not attempt to fix these products.
If you find a retailer that is selling this type of product, please contact Health Canada to file a report. To reach the nearest Regional Product Safety Office, consumers can call toll-free (within Canada): 1-866-662-0666.
As of August 26th Health Canada had not received any reports of incidents or injuries in Canada related to these products. Nevertheless, these products should be disassembled and disposed of in such a way that they can never be used again. Consumers are also encouraged to notify Health Canada should they find these products for sale.
Safety issue
Health Canada recommends that children under six years of age not be placed in any hammock as infants and young children are susceptible to considerable fall, strangulation, and suffocation hazards.
Health Canada also reminds parents and caregivers that the safest place for an infant to sleep is alone in a crib.
Under Bill C-36, the proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, Health Canada would have new and enhanced powers, including the authority to order mandatory recalls of unsafe consumer products, require suppliers to report any adverse health effects, including serious injuries or illnesses, resulting from the use of their products, and maintain product records for traceability.
